The little elves who bring Christmas cheer may be closer than we realize.

For many years, children have left notes for Santa filled with their biggest wishes for what they want to see under the Christmas tree. In 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock began allowing post offices to respond to the letters they intercepted. Local post offices continue that holiday tradition this year by becoming liaisons between the kids and the man in red.

"If kids write letters to Santa, we're going to make sure they get to Santa," said Frankford Postmaster John Douds.

Douds forwards on hundreds of letters every year from the Ocean View, Dagsboro, Selbyville, Bethany Beach and Frankford areas he's in charge of.

Rehoboth Beach Post Office also makes sure children are heard during the holiday season.

When carriers pick up mail from kids, they make sure to write the return address on the back so the elves know where to send thank yous. Rehoboth Post Office clerk Della Willey says within three to four days, children receive a personalized letter from Santa that tells them he'll do his best.

"We go ahead and open them, write a note talking about what they asked for, and tell them that Santa has been watching them be good this year," she said. "Then we sign the inside and mark it with a North Pole stamp."

Though Douds doesn't write a response back to the letters sent through his office, he believes giving children an opportunity to communicate with Santa is the most important thing.

"There's too many for us to reply to," he said. "But most kids are answered by Santa."

Both post offices agreed sending a wish list isn't a guarantee for receiving that coveted gift — "It's a supply and demand type of thing," said Willey — but Santa will continue to keep his eye out for what they need.